The rapidly advancing communication technologies have contributed to the global phenomenon of information explosion. Mass media, such as newspaper, radio, and television, have thoroughly prevailed in our lives, indicating that information is much more accessible than ever, ineluctably causing enormous impacts on our society. When it comes to the issue whether printed books surpass television in terms of their influence, my answer is distinctly negative and the following are several reasons to further elucidate my thoughts.
 

Firstly, for general people, watching television is more convenient than reading books. This is because TV nowadays can be found everywhere and thus the chance of exposure to TV is even higher. As we engage in daily activities, like having dinner at a restaurant or going shopping in a department store, it is hard for us to totally avoid the intrusion of TV. In contrast, ordinary people wouldn’t intentionally carry a book in advance before eating or shopping. Moreover, since dynamic images are more appealing than rigid texts, most people habitually obtain information via TV rather than books. 
 

Secondly, information from TV can be updated rapidly but that from printed books lacks this feature. Once an event occurs, this breaking news can be reported promptly through TV, while a book referring to this cannot be available until the procedure of publishing is done. Take the Boston Marathon bombings for instance. Thanks to the live broadcast from TV, the Boston residents could immediately realize the crisis facing them, thereby obediently following the instructions of the government; furthermore, the suspects could be captured soon under the assistance of local dwellers.
 

In a nutshell, TV is a far-reaching medium, enabling us to easily catch up with the dynamics of the world. Nonetheless, just as the saying goes, “Water is a boon in the desert, but the drowning man curses it.” Violent and porn TV programs can create injurious impacts on juvenile development. Consequently, besides enjoying the benefits TV brings, not only should the government be responsible for censoring programs, but parents also have to guard their children from being exposed to harmful contents.